north highlands
North Highlands is a Sacramento County community of nine square miles located to the northeast of Downtown Sacramento. Since the early 1930's, the community grew right along with McClellan Air Force Base which sits right on the western border of North Highlands.
With lots of affordable housing, the community flourished, as both military and civilian personnel tied to McClellan found homes and raised families. At its' peak, McClellan provided over 40,000 jobs to the area and the commercial activity all along Watt Avenue fed off of those that worked at McClellan.
Throughout World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, planes flew over North Highlands and in and out of McClellan after getting the maintenance they needed. The level of military activity, with both military and non-military personnel being transferred in and out of McClellan, pushed real estate prices steadily upward.
Then came the process of slimming down the military and closing bases in the 1990's. Home prices in North Highlands were hit hard with the decision was made to close the air force base in 1995. As tough as the closing of the base was on North Highlands, the community made it through. Then, shortly after closing, the base was taken over and re-purposed to serve as a business park. McClellan Business Park is now home to many businesses as well as the United States Coast Guard and the California Department of Forestry.
With lots of affordable housing, the community flourished, as both military and civilian personnel tied to McClellan found homes and raised families. At its' peak, McClellan provided over 40,000 jobs to the area and the commercial activity all along Watt Avenue fed off of those that worked at McClellan.
Throughout World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, planes flew over North Highlands and in and out of McClellan after getting the maintenance they needed. The level of military activity, with both military and non-military personnel being transferred in and out of McClellan, pushed real estate prices steadily upward.
Then came the process of slimming down the military and closing bases in the 1990's. Home prices in North Highlands were hit hard with the decision was made to close the air force base in 1995. As tough as the closing of the base was on North Highlands, the community made it through. Then, shortly after closing, the base was taken over and re-purposed to serve as a business park. McClellan Business Park is now home to many businesses as well as the United States Coast Guard and the California Department of Forestry.